The first leg of the UEFA Europa League second round will kick off at 02:00 UTCon July 24, 2026, with Besiktas JK hosting Danish side Midtjylland at Besiktas Park. This is the first meeting between the two sides in European competition, and both aim to gain an advantage in the two-legged tie. The weather at Besiktas Park is expected to be clear, with temperatures between 20°C and 21°C, ideal for football.
Besiktas JK are a traditional powerhouse in the Turkish Super Lig, finishing fourth last season with a record of 17 wins, 9 draws, and 8 losses in 34 matches, scoring 59 goals and conceding 40. Their home record stands at 9 wins, 4 draws, and 4 losses, with a home win rate exceeding 50%, giving them a certain home advantage. However, Besiktas have been underwhelming in pre-season friendlies, with only 2 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses in their last 5 friendlies, including a recent 2-3 defeat to Spartak Trnava, exposing defensive issues. Statistically, Besiktas average 1.1 goals scored and 1.2 goals conceded per game over their last 10 matches, with 61% possession and 7.3 corners, showing balanced attack and defense but a recent decline in attacking efficiency. In their last 3 matches, they average just 1 goal per game, concede 2, face 8 shots, earn 8 corners, and have 59% possession, indicating defensive pressure.
Midtjylland are a strong side in the Danish Superliga, finishing second last season with 13 wins, 7 draws, and 2 losses in 22 matches, scoring 58 goals and conceding 23. Their attacking firepower led the league, averaging 2.64 goals per game. Away from home, Midtjylland recorded 6 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses in 11 matches, showing solid away form. In pre-season friendlies, Midtjylland have been in scintillating form, with 4 wins and 1 draw in their last 5 friendlies, including three consecutive wins: 4-1 over OB, 6-0 over Cardiff City, and 4-2 over Silkeborg, scoring 14 goals in those three matches , with multiple attacking threats. Statistics show Midtjylland average 2.3 goals scored and 1.1 conceded per game over their last 10 matches, with 56.3% possession and 5.7 corners, far superior attacking efficiency than the hosts. In their last 3 matches, they average 4.7 goals scored, 1 conceded, face 5 shots, earn 6.7 corners, and have 64.3% possession, with impressive numbers on both ends.
In terms of squad, Besiktas face some injury and suspension issues. According to pre-match information, left winger Leandro Trossard is unavailable due to registration restrictions, defensive midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is out with a ligament injury, and center-back Felix Uduokhai is suspended due to a red card. The absence of these three players impacts the team's midfield and defense. However, Besiktas still have quality players like Václav Černý and Orkun Kökçü. Černý contributed 5 goals and 8 assists in the Turkish Super Lig last season and is the team's attacking playmaker. Besiktas are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with goalkeeper Doğan Alemdar, a back four of Rıdvan Yılmaz, Topçu, Tiago Djaló, and Kasım Wätara, a double pivot of Salih Özcan and İlhan Fakılı, and an attacking line led by Václav Černý, Orkun Kökçü, and Semih Kılıçsoy. Among them, Tiago Djaló is valued at €8 million, Kasım Wätara at €12 million, and Orkun Kökçü at €25 million, making them key players.
Midtjylland also have absentees: forward Brumado is out with a knee injury, defender Adam Gabriel, midfielder Daniel Silva, goalkeepers Mark Ugboh and Ovie Ejaria are unavailable due to registration restrictions, and defender Ousmane Diomande is doubtful with a foot injury. Despite this, Midtjylland's squad depth remains impressive. Forward Friday Etim has scored braces in recent friendlies, showing excellent form and being a key attacking weapon. Midtjylland are expected to adopt a 3-4-2-1 formation, with goalkeeper Elias Olafsson, a back three of Nissen Kristensen, V. Jensen, and Lee Han-beom, a midfield of Pedro Bravo, Philip Billing, Darío Esteban, and Franculino, and a forward line of Friday Etim and Valdemar Andreasen. Among them, Nissen Kristensen is valued at €10 million, Philip Billing at €10 million, and Franculino at €13 million, making them formidable.
In terms of odds movement, the initial handicap for this match is Besiktas -0.25, with home team odds at 0.76 and away team odds at 1.00. As of pre-match, the handicap remains Besiktas -0.25, with home odds rising to 0.79 and away odds dropping to 1.03, indicating weakened confidence in the hosts. The over/under line initially set at 2.5 goals, with over odds at 0.88 and under at 0.88, has shifted slightly to over 0.90 and under 0.90. In European odds, home win is at 2.00, draw at 3.40, and away win at 3.10. The home win odds are relatively low, but away win odds are also low, suggesting bookmakers are cautious about the visitors taking points. For the first half, the handicap is Besiktas -0.25, with home odds at 1.09 and away at 0.67, now home at 1.13 and away at 0.70; the first half over/under is initially 1 goal, with over at 0.85 and under at 0.91, now over at 0.87 and under at 0.93. For corners, the handicap is Besiktas -1, with home at 0.95 and away at 0.85, unchanged; the corner over/under is initially 10, with over at 0.90 and under at 0.90, now adjusted to 9.5, with over at 0.85 and under at 0.95.
Looking at recent form, Besiktas have 2 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses in their last 6 official matches, with poor handicap performance, losing the last 3 handicaps. Midtjylland have 4 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss in their last 6 matches, with good handicap performance, winning 2 of the last 3. Under the same historical handicap , Besiktas have 2 wins and 1 loss in their last 3 home matches, while Midtjylland have 2 wins and 1 loss in their last 3 away matches receiving +0.25, showing the visitors are not inferior. Specifically, Besiktas' matches under this handicap include: a 1-2 home loss to Samsunspor on April 19, 2026 , a 1-0 home win over Kocaelispor on February 28, 2026 , and a 2-0 home win over Konyaspor on October 23, 2025 . Midtjylland's matches under this handicap include: a 1-2 away loss to Nottingham Forest on March 20, 2026 , a 1-0 away win over AGF on February 13, 2026 , and a 3-1 away win over Brøndby on September 1, 2025 .
Statistical comparison shows that in the last 3 matches, Besiktas average 1 goal scored, 2 conceded, face 8 shots, earn 8 corners, and have 59% possession; Midtjylland average 4.7 goals scored, 1 conceded, face 5 shots, earn 6.7 corners, and have 64.3% possession. The visitors' attacking data is significantly better, and their defense is also more solid. Over the last 10 matches, Besiktas average 1.1 goals scored, 1.2 conceded, face 11.7 shots, earn 7.3 corners, and have 61% possession; Midtjylland average 2.3 goals scored, 1.1 conceded, face 9.5 shots, earn 5.7 corners, and have 56.3% possession.
In terms of goal timing, Besiktas score and concede more in the final 15 minutes, each accounting for 20%, while Midtjylland concede a high proportion in the final 15 minutes but also score 19%. This suggests both teams may score late in the game. Specifically, in Besiktas' last 30 matches, goal distribution by time: 1-15 min: 18% scored, 8% conceded; 16-30: 9% scored, 20% conceded; 31-45: 21% scored, 20% conceded; 46-60: 14% scored, 20% conceded; 61-75: 14% scored, 14% conceded; 76-90: 21% scored, 14% conceded. In their last 50 matches: 1-15: 20% scored, 9% conceded; 16-30: 10% scored, 16% conceded; 31-45: 20% scored, 23% conceded; 46-60: 14% scored, 18% conceded; 61-75: 12% scored, 12% conceded; 76-90: 20% scored, 20% conceded. For Midtjylland's last 30 matches: 1-15: 11% scored, 7% conceded; 16-30: 11% scored, 16% conceded; 31-45: 18% scored, 11% conceded; 46-60: 17% scored, 11% conceded; 61-75: 21% scored, 14% conceded; 76-90: 18% scored, 28% conceded. In their last 50 matches: 1-15: 12% scored, 7% conceded; 16-30: 12% scored, 17% conceded; 31-45: 20% scored, 12% conceded; 46-60: 18% scored, 10% conceded; 61-75: 18% scored, 12% conceded; 76-90: 19% scored, 33% conceded.
League standings: Besiktas finished last season with 17 wins, 9 draws, 8 losses in 34 Turkish Super Lig matches, scoring 59 and conceding 40, goal difference +19, ranked 4th, win rate 50%. Home: 9 wins, 4 draws, 4 losses, 30 scored, 20 conceded, +10, win rate 52.9%. Away: 8 wins, 5 draws, 4 losses, 29 scored, 20 conceded, +9, win rate 47.1%. Last 6 league matches: 2 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses, 10 scored, 8 conceded, +2, win rate 33.3%. First half: overall 12 wins, 17 draws, 5 losses, 32 scored, 18 conceded, +14, ranked 5th, win rate 35.3%; home: 4 wins, 11 draws, 2 losses, 16 scored, 10 conceded, +6, win rate 23.5%; away: 8 wins, 6 draws, 3 losses, 16 scored, 8 conceded, +8, win rate 47.1%; last 6 first halves: 2 wins, 3 draws, 1 loss, 6 scored, 4 conceded, +2, win rate 33.3%. Midtjylland finished last season with 13 wins, 7 draws, 2 losses in 22 Danish Superliga matches, scoring 58 and conceding 23, +35, ranked 2nd, win rate 59.1%. Home: 7 wins, 4 draws, 0 losses, 34 scored, 14 conceded, +20, win rate 63.6%. Away: 6 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses, 24 scored, 9 conceded, +15, win rate 54.5%. Last 6 league matches: 4 wins, 2 draws, 0 losses, 19 scored, 5 conceded, +14, win rate 66.7%. First half: overall 8 wins, 11 draws, 3 losses, 25 scored, 10 conceded, +15, ranked 3rd, win rate 36.4%; home: 4 wins, 6 draws, 1 loss, 16 scored, 6 conceded, +10, win rate 36.4%; away: 4 wins, 5 draws, 2 losses, 9 scored, 4 conceded, +5, win rate 36.4%; last 6 first halves: 3 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss, 9 scored, 2 conceded, +7, win rate 50.0%.
Goal difference statistics: Besiktas won by 2+ goals in 26.47% of matches , by 1 goal in 23.53% , drew in 26.47% , lost by 1 goal in 17.65% , and lost by 2+ goals in 5.88% . Midtjylland won by 2+ goals in 50.00% of matches , by 1 goal in 9.09% , drew in 31.82% , lost by 1 goal in 9.09% , and lost by 2+ goals in 0.00% .
Schedule: After the first leg, Besiktas will travel to Midtjylland for the second leg on July 31, then face Eyüpspor at home on August 17 in the Turkish Super Lig, Alanyaspor away on August 24, Çorum at home on August 31, and Fenerbahçe away on September 7. Midtjylland will face SønderjyskE away on July 26 in the Danish Superliga, host Besiktas on July 31 for the second leg, then host Horsens on August 2, travel to Lyngby on August 16, and host Randers on August 23.
In summary, although Besiktas have home advantage, their recent form is mediocre, and several key players are absent, affecting both attack and defense. Midtjylland, on the other hand, are in excellent form with fierce attacking power and a relatively complete squad. Despite Besiktas possibly having a slight edge in quality and European experience, given the current form and squad situation, Midtjylland are fully capable of taking points away from home.
Risk reminder: Friendly form may differ from official matches; Besiktas' home atmosphere should not be underestimated, and Midtjylland's defense has also conceded in recent friendlies, so there are variables in this match.
Final Recommendation
- 1X2: Midtjylland win
- Score: 1-2,2-3
- Handicap: Midtjylland +0.25
- Total: Over 2.5